I was pleased, fascinated and moved by the Pope’s recent visit to Washington, New York City and Philadelphia. His carefully crafted messages and symbolically rich appearances brought inspiration and encouragement not only to Roman Catholics, but to the faithful of all religious traditions. Speaking with a moral authority rooted deeply in scripture, Francis challenged believers, and indeed, governmental leaders, to live and govern with the courage of biblical convictions. Whatever one’s political predilection, those familiar with the bible know that themes of equality, dignity, mercy, compassion, servanthood and stewardship are central to the teachings of Christianity. The Pope’s criticism of consumerism, the quest for power and status, the neglect of the poor, the mistreatment of children, the warehousing of the elderly and the abuse of the environment are not evidence of the Pope’s politics, but rather of his intention to live by godly principals. In this regard, he used his U.S. visit for good purpose -- to challenge us to do the same.

Approximately 30,000 youth and adult leaders attended the ELCA National Youth Gathering this summer in Detroit. More than a dozen members of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church participated. The program featured an assortment of excellent speakers, musicians and media productions. But the most inspiring aspect of the Gathering was the participants themselves. Organized into servant teams, the youth, dressed in brightly colored t-shirts, were sent by the hundreds into the streets and neighborhoods of the city as ambassadors of goodwill. 1,847 mural boards were painted 600 neighborhoods were affected 319 vacant homes were boarded up 3,200 vacant lots were cleared of debris 1,425 backpacks were distributed 36 urban gardens were installed 99 picnic tables were built 26 dumpsters were filled Other projects were conducted as well. 650 individuals donated at least 8 inches of hair – 433 feet in total A blood drive resulted in the collection of 78.8 gallons of blood (607 pints) 1 million diapers were collected for needy families $402,000 was collected for the ELCA World Hunger’s Walk for Water

The kindness and generosity extended by the young people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American surprised and delighted the residents of Detroit. “We did not go to Detroit to save the city,” said one participant, “but to experience it . . . and what an experience it was!”

It has been a long season of disquiet in our country. From Ferguson to Baltimore, simmering racial tensions have boiled over into violence. But this … the fatal shooting of nine African Americans in a church is a stark, raw manifestation of the sin that is racism. The church was desecrated. The people of that congregation were desecrated. The aspiration voiced in the Pledge of Allegiance that we are “one nation under God” was desecrated. Mother Emanuel AME’s pastor, the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, was a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, as was the Rev. Daniel Simmons, associate pastor at Mother Emanuel. The suspected shooter is a member of an ELCA congregation. All of a sudden and for all of us, this is an intensely personal tragedy. One of our own is alleged to have shot and killed two who adopted us as their own. We might say that this was an isolated act by a deeply disturbed man. But we know that is not the whole truth. It is not an isolated event. And even if the shooter was unstable, the framework upon which he built his vision of race is not. Racism is a fact in American culture. Denial and avoidance of this fact are deadly. The Rev. Mr. Pinckney leaves a wife and children. The other eight victims leave grieving families. The family of the suspected killer and two congregations are broken. When will this end? The nine dead in Charleston are not the first innocent victims killed by violence. Our only hope rests in the innocent One, who was violently executed on Good Friday. Emmanuel, God with us, carried our grief and sorrow – the grief and sorrow of Mother Emanuel AME church – and he was wounded for our transgressions – the deadly sin of racism. I urge all of us to spend a day in repentance and mourning. And then we need to get to work. Each of us and all of us need to examine ourselves, our church and our communities. We need to be honest about the reality of racism within us and around us. We need to talk and we need to listen, but we also need to act. No stereotype or racial slur is justified. Speak out against inequity. Look with newly opened eyes at the many subtle and overt ways that we and our communities see people of color as being of less worth. Above all pray – for insight, for forgiveness, for courage.

Blizzard conditions on Sunday, February 15 prevented the majority of our members from attending worship. Only two of our four weekend worship services were held. If you were among those who were unable to participate, here is a written version of the sermon.A recording of the 10:30 a.m. service is also available. Mark 9:2-12 Imagine the scene for yourself. Put yourself there. Along with Jesus and three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, you are on the top of a mountain. It has been a long and difficult climb. You feel the strain of the walk. You are tired from the journey, exhausted. Why, you wonder, did Jesus lead you here? You’d like to know the answer, yet you are reluctant to ask. He must have a reason, you say to yourself. Now that you’ve reached the end of the trail your hope is that you’ll have some time to talk with Jesus. You’re still upset by what he told you six days ago before the journey began. “The Son of Man,” he said, “will suffer terribly. He will be rejected and killed, but three days later he will rise to life.” And then he said, “If you want to be my followers you must deny your self. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news you will save it.” His words confused you. That’s why you need to talk to him. Maybe you’ve misunderstood him. He couldn’t have meant those words, could he? And then it happens! Brightness! You know who you are seeing, but can’t quite comprehend it . . . this vision of glory! It is brilliant and compelling and unbelievably beautiful, yet, at the same time, you are terrified, frightened to be in the presence of something so obviously holy. You hear a voice, a voice you’ve not heard before. Yet somehow you know the voice: God’s voice. “This is my Son and I love him,” the voice says. “Listen to what he says.” How to explain it, this vision of glory? How to explain the voice heard from heaven. Yet you yearn to share the vision, to interpret it, to understand it. Your eyes are fixed on Jesus. You know it is Jesus you are seeing; he is unmistakable, yet different, so different – transfigured.

You see what you couldn’t see before. In him you see the beginning and ending of all things! In him you see the triumph of life over death, of hope over despair, of joy over sorrow! In him you see victory! “I’ll build a dwelling”, you say. (You can’t believe you said that out loud.) “I’ll stay here forever”. But then, as suddenly as it came, the vision fades and, well, its Jesus again, Jesus as you know him. With resolve he heads down the mountain. You are familiar with the look on his face. It’s a determined look, a look that says there is work to be done – down below. It’s the work of salvation. “Tell no one,” he says, “until I’m raised from the dead.” -- It is quite a vision, isn’t it, this vision of Peter, James and John.It is likely they didn’t fully understand what they saw and heard that day until much later, when they saw Jesus for themselves – the Jesus they had thought was dead! It is likely they thought about it throughout the rest of their lives trying to make sense of it, trying to recapture it, trying to recreate in their minds this special moment of glory. There is evidence their lives were shaped and inspired by it -- this trio of apostles who gave their all, faithful unto death, each of them, for the sake of Christ and the good news. This is, after all, what godly visions do, they shape us and inspire us. They encourage us. They strengthen our faith and embolden our mission. But, you are thinking, I’ve never had such a vision.And I’m right with you on that, I’ve never had one either – not, at least, like that of Peter, James and John. This much we know from scripture – such visions are rare. They are rare and infrequent gifts. Still, we do have their vision, don’t we?It is shared with us in three of the four Gospels and referenced by the Apostle Paul. And we have other biblical visions as well. We have the vision of Moses on Mt. Sinai, where he learned the name of God. We have the vision of Elijah, who heard God speak, not in a whirlwind, but in a still, small voice. And we have the vision of Jesus, who at his baptism saw the heavens torn open and heard God speak, “you are my beloved son, with you I am pleased”. This is the unique power of scripture. Its words are God’s words, living words, active words, life giving words, transforming words, words that become our words, our memories – words of faith that shape, inspire and encourage us. With these words, some of which are visions, we grow in confidence and share in the vision of faith. They teach us, these words, that our destiny is with Christ, who is not only with God, but is God; they implore us to listen to him, to take up our cross and follow him. They assure us that with Christ as our destiny, living by his words, we have nothing to fear and so, so much to gain. Consider, then, these words of yet another godly vision, that of the Revelation to John. Describing the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, he sees God’s throne and from it hears a voice. Imagine it. Envision it. Make the vision your own. I heard a loud voice shout from the throne. God’s home is now with his people. He will live with them and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, crying, suffering or pain. These things of the past are gone forever. Then the one sitting on the throne said, “Behold, I am making everything new.” This is John’s vision, and our vision too. How we long for that day! Until then, come what may, shaped, inspired and encouraged by godly visions of glory, we pick up our cross to follow him and listen to him . . . he who leads the way.

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. Thessalonians 3:5

The word steadfast perhaps best describes the ministry of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in the calendar year 2014. We remained an active, vibrant, steadfast congregation. Hundreds of individuals of all ages attended our worship services and participated in our ministries, programs, and special projects. Financial support of our ministry remained strong and our capital stewardship appeal was successful. Significant additional funds were raised to support faith based ministries outside of our congregation. Patiently and persistently we made progress towards our goal of expanding, renovating and renewing our parish hall. Dozens of weddings, funerals, baptisms and bible study sessions were planned and conducted. Our Sunday school curriculum was revised and a Saturday class added. Our teenage members enjoyed an growing, spiritually centered, socially conscientious ministry. Team Trinity conducted another successful mission trip. Our Food Pantry and Hot Meal programs continued to provide a valuable and much appreciated community service. Our music, worship leadership and fellowship groups provided opportunities for service and enriching friendship. We can be proud of these accomplishments and the ministry we have conducted in 2014. We are, to be sure, a busy congregation with much to offer those who seek to be involved with a faith community. Busyness, in itself, however, is not our goal. Our goal is that through our ministries, programs and special projects the Lord will direct our hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall is indeed a “spectacular” production! Even though much of the show remains the same each year, performances are presented with such beauty, precision and good taste that audiences return season after season. Among my favorite scenes are a 3D ride through the skies of New York and classic pieces such as the March of the Toy Soldiers and the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies. Yet for me, the most spectacular and moving scene of the production comes at the very end – the living Nativity. The fact that the scene is still included and is presented with such reverence and dignity is truly a wonder in itself. Picture it in your mind. A stately procession moves in single file across the stage guided by a bright light: kings and servants, camels and donkeys, shepherds and sheep. They gather before a manger elevated on a hill. Mary and Joseph and the newborn Jesus are there. The light focuses now on the baby as Joseph lifts him high above his head, a symbol that the child is an offering. He is a gift . . . a gift offered not to God, but to the audience! Wise men dressed in beautiful gowns bow before him in tribute. As the curtain falls, the chorus sings O Come, Let us Adore Him; they sing the invitation of Christmas. This invitation is once again offered to you this Christmas. You are invited to reach out to the extended hands of God and make God’s gift your own. When you do, when you enter into and intentionally cultivate your relationship with Christ, you discover the power, the peace and the love of Christmas. You experience God’s exquisite gift, for you!

I don't know about you, but I wasn't surprised by the Ferguson grand jury decision. The case was muddled and complex, eye witness accounts differed and there was a question about the officer’s safety. The Eric Garner case, however, seems different: The incident was videotaped, the suspect was unarmed and known to the police and the arresting officer and his colleagues appeared to be in no apparent danger. While I want to be supportive of police departments here and across America, it is clear that members of minority races are policed differently and more aggressively than whites. The tactics used by the police in the Garner case, which included a banned choke hold, seem to be a clear example of this. We have come a long way in America in addressing matters of racism and racial inequality, but as protesters young and old across the country rightly remind us, we have yet a long way to go.Read below Bishop Robert Rimbo's pastoral regarding racism.

Dec 08, 2014

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: "A voice says, ‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’" Isaiah, in chapter 40, wasn’t the last person to ask that question. It’s a haunting, even troubling question in these particular Advent days. It’s hard to cry out when you can’t breathe. The events of these last days have come especially close to home. The decision surrounding the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, was one thing. I left the response to that sadness to our presiding bishop. But this decision, about the homicide of Eric Garner, was local, made by a grand jury on Staten Island, close to home, so close it is hard to breathe. What shall we cry? "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God," to be sure. But no matter whether we all agree on the question of justice in these cases, I think it is time for us to stand up, breathe deeply together, and stop simply talking about the racism that is profoundly present in our lives, our cities, our world, our church. It is time for us to lift up our voice with strength, as Isaiah says, but to do more than just talk about it. It is time to do more than simply cry. This past Saturday, December 6, the Sent Committee of our strategic plan was in conversation with me about how that action in our synod might start. Next Tuesday, December 16, I will encourage our Synod Council to consider what next steps we should take. It is clear that the first step will be a Service for Justice the afternoon of January 17, 2015. The place is yet to be determined but we will announce that as soon as possible. This will be the first of a series of events designed to gather any and all members of our synod to take bold, new steps to address the horror of racism. In the meantime, as your bishop and on behalf of our synod, I will participate in public forums to act and speak for racial justice. I invite you to let me know when such opportunities for public witness are scheduled. I realize that not everyone will agree with my stance; I believe I must act now. The closing verses of the first reading for the Second Sunday in Advent (Isaiah 40:1-11), encourage action: get up, lift up your voice, do not fear, say, see, feed, gather, carry, gently lead. That’s what we will do. I hope you will join me.Bishop Robert Alan Rimbo

Here is a book that may interest you. Be warned, however, it relates a brutal tale, and it’s long -- 568 pages. If you like history, are fascinated by the Holy City of Jerusalem and are interested in the historical complexities of Middle Eastern politics, you’ll find this book a fascinating and informative read. Jerusalem, by Simon Sebag MontefioreMontefiore presents more than 3,000 years of Jerusalem’s history. He begins his story with King David, but his account could have begun even earlier --the city was already ancient, he writes, when David captured the citadel. Although its name literally means “City of Peace”, it has been the site of more fanaticism, tragedy and political intrigue than any other city on earth. It was destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. It has been ruled by Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Mumluks, Arabs, Albanians, Germans and the British. Still today as a “Holy City” of three great world religions, Jerusalem claims the interest and loyalty of millions. Montefiore weaves into his story an assortment of leaders, authorities, heroes, villains and oddities. In addition to biblical characters, Herod the Great, Cleopatra, Baldwin IV (The Leper-King), Saladin, Suleiman, Jazzar the Butcher, Wasif Jawhariyyeh (the Oud-Player), Rasputin and Lawrence of Arabia were my favorites. Of particular interest were the rituals, quarrels and indignities associated with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The status of Jerusalem remains to this day one of the core issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Montefiore provides an excellent summary of the events, personalities and circumstances that continue to shape and trouble Jerusalem, the Holy City on a hill.

If you haven’t read the stories of Peter and Paul in the New Testament, you’ve missed some great adventures. Of all the apostles, in fact, of all the evangelists, missionaries and preachers that have ever lived, there are none greater than Peter and Paul. It has been said that Peter, among the first of Jesus’ disciples, and Paul, who wrote more than half of the New Testament, are more responsible for the existence of the Christian Church than anyone except Jesus! Inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit, had not they taken the message of Christianity to the Gentile or non-Jewish world, it is possible that the Christian Church as we know it today would not exist. I do not have the space in this blog to consider the entire span of their ministries. If you want to read more about Peter and Paul, however, the Book of Acts in the New Testament is the place to start.

Because both apostles were martyred on the same date, though in different years, the Christian Church has traditionally commemorated the anniversaries of their deaths on the same day, as we did at Trinity Church on Sunday, June 29. As I said then, given the importance of Peter and Paul to the life and ministry of the Christian Church, it seems only appropriate, however briefly, to pay them tribute and to learn from the example of their lives. Among that which can be said of them is this, they were devoted to Jesus, bold in witness, humble in spirit and faithful to the end.

Devoted to Jesus When we first meet Peter in the New Testament, his name is Simon. Like other disciples of Jesus, he was a fisherman by trade, but we also know that he was a disciple of John the Baptist. He had a brother named Andrew and a wife who often joined him on his missionary journeys. It was Andrew who introduced him to Jesus, who immediately, according to the Gospel of John, renamed him “Cephas or Peter”, which means “rock” in Hebrew and Greek. The name was to shape his character and destiny. It was the example of his faith, his great devotion to Jesus, which became “ the rock” upon which the church was built.

As for Paul, he was an apostle who, unlike the others, had not met Jesus personally. Jesus appeared to him, he testified, in a vision. Named Saul at the time, a persecutor of Christianity, he was commissioned by Christ, under the new name of Paul, “to be an instrument whom God had chosen to bring the name of Christ before the Gentiles. "I myself,” said the Lord, “will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:15-16).

Unlike Peter, who became a personal friend of Jesus, who was a spokesperson for the Twelve, who was among the inner circle of the disciples, who was with Jesus when he raised Jairus’ daughter from death, who witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus, and who went with Jesus to the Mount of Olives on the last day of his life, Paul was a convert to the faith. He was an example of those, to quote the Gospel of John, “who believed even though he had not seen.”

Yet both were sincerely devoted to Jesus. At the end of John’s Gospel, even after denying Jesus three times, three times Peter declares his love for Jesus, “Lord, you know that I love you.” He may have expected Jesus to reject him for his betrayal, but instead Jesus commissioned him, “Peter,” he commanded, “feed my sheep.” And as for Paul, near the end of his life, sitting in prison, uncertain of his fate, he declares, “for me, Christ is life!” Christ was everything to him. Both Peter and Paul were devoted to Jesus. It was Jesus who changed their lives.

Bold in Witness Whoever would have thought that a fisherman, a common workingman, would become one of the greatest Christian evangelists? Peter himself must have been astonished. Just a few days after the Ascension, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, he rose to address the people of Jerusalem with a message so powerful that 3,000 people were converted. After a second sermon, the religious authorities who had been so eager to hasten Jesus’ death, became so worried about Peter’s claim that Jesus had been raised form the dead, that they threw him in prison to shut him up.

“There is salvation in no one else,” Peter, preached “for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:13). The text continues, “Now when they (the religious authorities) saw the boldness of Peter and realized that he was an uneducated and ordinary man, they were amazed and recognized him as a companion of Jesus.”

And who would have thought that Paul, a persecutor of Christianity, a man hated, despised and feared by the Christian community, would become the very agent God would use to carry the Christian message into the Gentile world?

It was not an easy life. Of his experiences Paul writes: “Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, I was in danger form rivers, bandits, my own people and from Gentiles; I was in danger in the city, in the wilderness, at sea, and in danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through may a sleepless night, I was hungry and thirsty, often without food; I was cold and naked. And besides others things, I am under daily pressure” he concluded, “because of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 Cor. 11:24 ff).

Peter, no doubt, could have complied a similar list. Both men suffered much for the sake of their faith; both were bold in witness. Nothing, save death itself, could stop their testimony.

Humble in Spirit Despite their remarkable accomplishments both men were well aware of their deficits as persons and as followers of Jesus. In many ways they felt inadequate and unqualified for the task. Scripture tells us, for example, that Peter was impulsive, a characteristic that often got him into trouble. Although he was gifted with spiritual insight, he was slow to comprehend the truth of Jesus’ teachings. Though courageous in witness and the first to confess Jesus as the Christ, he was guilty of a most cowardly denial. While eager to see and worship the Lord after the Resurrection, he was hesitant, and with good reason, to hear what the Lord had to say.

Paul also had issues. His famous “thorn in the flesh”, whatever it was, was a constant irritant and personal burden. His history as a persecutor of Christians hindered his relationship with the church and its leadership at Jerusalem. His forceful personality and penchant for speaking his mind resulted in countless arguments and misunderstandings. He was a persuasive, but not, apparently, a handsome or winsome preacher. An ancient source described him as short in stature and partly bald. He had crocked legs, poor eyesight and a nose somewhat hocked.

Both men were humbled, astounded and deeply moved that Jesus had chosen them, despite their weaknesses and troublesome pasts, to be his ambassadors in the world.

Faithful to the End Peter, according to tradition, died as a martyr in Rome probably during the reign of Emperor Nero. Like Jesus, he was crucified – but not exactly like Jesus. It is said that he asked his executioners to hang him on the cross upside down, explaining that he was not worthy to be crucified in the same position as his Savior.

Paul also died in Rome. Rome had long been a desired destination for both evangelists who were eager to give witness to Christ the King in the very the center of the imperial city. There Paul was beheaded, most likely in the Coliseum, perhaps in the presence of the Emperor himself -- a final testimony to the true and only King, Jesus, Christ the Lord. Like Peter, he was faithful to the end.

Inspired by the examples of Peter and Paul, two great heroes of the Christian faith, we strive to be like them: devoted to Jesus, bold in witness, humble in spirit and faithful to the end.

The disciples of Jesus were slow to accept the resurrection. The notion that God could raise someone from the dead was as difficult for them to believe as it is for us. The gospel writers are honest about this. In Mark’s gospel, for example, we are told that the women who witnessed the empty tomb were so confused and afraid, that they said nothing to anyone. In Luke, when the women reported to the disciples what they had experienced and who they had encountered at the grave site, we are told that the disciples refused to believe them. Later when Jesus suddenly appeared in their presence, they cowered back thinking they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you frightened,” Jesus said, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts”. In the Gospel of John, even after the disciples had had a personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus, they still had a difficult time believing, so much so that they decided to go back to their old way of life! “I’m going fishing,” Peter said, and the others agreed to go with him. Matthew’s Gospel tells us quite plainly that some believed, but others doubted. N.T. Wright, the New Testament scholar, contends that the notion that an individual could be raised from the dead was not a concept familiar to Judaism. The disciples, he writes, would never have expected their fellow Jews to believe that Jesus rose from the dead. They, themselves, couldn’t have imagined it . . . yet this is what they came to believe. It was a belief that transformed their lives. In fact, they gave their lives in witness to it. In the April 16, 2014 edition of The Christian Century Magazine, John Buchannan, the magazine’s editor, diverted his readers from contemplating the science of the resurrection to its mystery and meaning. “People come to church on Easter,” he writes, “because there is serious business on the agenda. They are not there to hear an explanation of how a dead body got up and walked out of the tomb. The four biblical accounts are lean: each tells the story slightly differently and none provides a detailed account of the resurrection itself. It is almost as if they are telling us, like someone who warns us not to look too directly at the bright sun, that we should not try to look too directly, that we should perceive this event in a different, deeper way – more heart than mind, more wonder than analysis.” “Some things,” he concludes, “are bigger than our ability to say them”.